The Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) is making substantial strides in addressing Fiji’s significant waste management challenges through a partnership with Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited. In preparation for the upcoming Vaka Forum Series, both organizations are working together to unite their teams around a shared vision aimed at confronting the waste crisis.
Amitesh Deo, the founder of PRF, highlights the importance of this collaborative alignment process, ensuring that team members fully comprehend the scope of waste management issues and their individual roles in addressing them. This unified effort is deemed essential prior to engaging with external partners and stakeholders during the upcoming Vaka Forum Series.
The term VAKA stands for Voices, Alliances, Knowledge, and Action, encapsulating PRF’s mission to integrate diverse perspectives, develop strategic partnerships, share essential insights, and foster collective initiatives to tackle waste management. Deo envisions the forums as stages for inclusive dialogue, where solutions can be co-created to meet Fiji’s distinct challenges.
Two forums are already set for November and December 2025, targeting tourism stakeholders and municipal councils, with another forum planned for early next year involving Members of Parliament and other significant government officials. Moreover, discussions are underway to include additional forums with international partners, ambassadors, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and religious groups.
The collaborative spirit inherent in this initiative echoes the growing momentum of PRF’s recent efforts, which focus on community engagement and educational campaigns aimed at promoting sustainable practices. Notably, the implementation of Collection Pillars of Recycling in underserved areas has created opportunities for community empowerment and economic development.
As Fiji embarks on this pivotal journey towards sustainable waste management, there is a robust belief that these collaborative discussions will not only enhance awareness but also pave the way for actionable solutions. The potential impact of the Vaka Forum Series to reshape Fiji’s waste management approach underscores the notion that collective knowledge and cooperation can lead to a cleaner and more sustainable future. With every stakeholder playing a role, the outlook for effective environmental solutions appears bright.